NCJ Number
46462
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 6 Issue: 1, Dated: (MARCH 1978) Pages: 77-85
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
TO ELUCIDATE FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH JOB SATISFACTION AMONG POLICE PERSONNEL, A SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED OF MEMBERS OF A LARGE SOUTHWESTERN POLICE FORCE.
Abstract
OF PARTICULAR INTEREST WERE THE CONSEQUENCES OF EDUCATION FOR JOB SATISFACTION. RETURN RATE FOR THE TOTAL DEPARTMENT WAS APPROXIMATELY 45 PERCENT (756 USEABLE QUESTIONNAIRES). DESPITE DEPARTMENTAL POLICIES ENCOURAGING AND FACILITATING INCREASED EDUCATIONAL LEVELS AMONG PERSONNEL, DATA REVEALED 229 RESPONDENTS (29.9 PERCENT) WITH A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, 505 RESPONDENTS WITH SOME COLLEGE (65.9 PERCENT), AND 32 WITH A COLLEGE DEGREE (4.2 PERCENT). RESPONSES ON A 5-POINT LIKERT SCALE REVEALED HIGH DEGREES OF JOB SATISFACTION (OVER 4.2) AMONG PERSONNEL REGARDLESS OF EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT. THIS TENDS TO REFUTE THE HYPOTHESIS THAT THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INCREASING LEVELS OF EDUCATION AND DECREASING LEVELS OF JOB SATISFACTION. THE CORRELATIONS BETWEEN LEVEL OF EDUCATION AND SPECIFIC JOB-RELATED ATTITUDES AND RESPONSES ARE SHOWN IN A TABLE. CORRELATIONS SUGGEST THAT AS EDUCATIONAL LEVEL INCREASES, MORE EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON INTERNAL THAN ON EXTERNAL SOURCES OF JOB SATISFACTION. FOR INSTANCE, FOR LOWER EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OFFICERS, JOB SATISFACTION SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE DEGREE OF PERCEIVED COMPETENCE OF SUPERIORS, WHILE FOR THE OFFICER WITH GREATER EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, JOB SATISFACTION APPEARS RELATED TO PERCEIVED CONTROL. FURTHER, JOB TENSION FOR COLLEGE GRADUATES IS RELATED TO JOB SATISFACTION, WHILE FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES JOB TENSION IS RELATED TO DISSATISFACTION. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HIGH EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND TERMINATION OF POLICE PERFORMANCE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED MAY BE A REFLECTION OF GREATER JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN OTHER ORGANIZATIONS FOR HIGHLY EDUCATED OFFICERS RATHER THAN AN EXPRESSION OF JOB DISSATISFACTION. THE RELATIONSHIP FOUND BETWEEN JOB SATISFACTION AND FEELINGS OF CONTROL FOR COLLEGE GRADUATES SUGGESTS THAT POLICE DEPARTMENTS COULD MAKE THEMSELVES MORE ATTRACTIVE TO COLLEGE GRADUATES BY INITIATING CHANGES WHICH INCREASE OFFICER'S BELIEFS THAT THEY ARE IN CONTROL OF THEIR ENVIRONMENTS. PROGRAMS WHICH BRING OFFICERS' PERCEIVED CONTROL MORE IN LINE WITH OBJECTIVE REALITY AND THE ADOPTION OF MORE PROGRESSIVE PROMOTION POLICIES ARE ALSO RECOMMENDED. FINALLY, AN ANALYSIS OF MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH JOB SATISFACTION INDICATED THAT OFFICERS OVER 33 YEARS OLD TEND TO THINK MORE ABOUT POLICE ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS THAN DO THEIR YOUNGER COUNTERPARTS; SELF-ACTUALIZATION AND ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH TASK ACCOMPLISHMENT NEEDS ARE MOST RELEVANT FOR OFFICERS IN THE 33 TO 39 YEAR OLD AGE GROUP. FURTHER RESEARCH IS SUGGESTED. (JAP)